Chess Puzzle #2DboZ — Beginner, White to move, middlegame

Rating 457 · Beginner · mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice, short.

Position

White: king g1; queen c2; rooks c1/c4; knight d7; pawns a2/b2/d4/g2/g3/h2. Black: king b8; queen b6; rooks d8/h7; knight e7; pawns a7/b7/e6/f5/f6/h6. Material is balanced. White to move.

Solution (2 moves)

  1. Opponent setup: Rxd7 — rook d8→d7, captures knight. Now White to move.
  2. Best move: Rc8+ — rook c4→c8, gives check. Opponent replies Nxc8 (knight e7→c8, captures rook).
  3. Best move: Qxc8# — queen c2→c8, captures knight, delivers checkmate.

Tactical themes

mate, mate in 2, middlegame, queenside attack, sacrifice, short. The combination ends with Qxc8# delivering checkmate.

Position data

FEN: 1k1r4/pp1Nn2r/1q2pp1p/5p2/2RP4/6P1/PPQ3PP/2R3K1 b - - 1 24

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Puzzle data from the Lichess puzzle database (CC0). Analysis powered by Stockfish 18 in your browser.